Aggus Family Information

Here is some Aggus family information I have pulled together recently.

MASON P. AGGUS BIRTHPLACE For a long time, I thought tracing the Aggus line beyond Mason P. was a brick wall.A written note from his great grandaughter, Lena Aggus (Panther), to my mother-in-law, Lucille Aggus (Holland), said he was born in Wales.One of my earliest sources for him (the 1870 Census), said he was born in Alabama.There was a William B. Aggus living in the Mobile, Alabama area 1847 to 1866.He immigrated from England about 1842.There were/are Aggus' in England and Wales.William was born about the same time as Mason P.If he were related to Mason P., he would have to be his brother.It took me fifteen years to find out that much, and another ten years with no further information.

When I obtained Mason P.'s Civil War Pension application file, it said he told the army he was born in Lawrence Co., TN.I decided to research a little further.

Since I had already researched AL thoroughly, and Lawrence Co., TN was the most specific place, I researched in that area and eventually found an Abner Aggus on a Voter's listthere in 1818.There were only 458 "voters" in the whole county at that time (one of whom, by the way was Davy Crockett).There had to be some connection, but I could find no Aggus' in that area before or after 1818.

THE WIDOW AGGAS STORY While researching something else, altogether, I came across this account which appears in old (1883 and 1895) histories of Butler Co., PA. It seems that in 1796, a widow Aggas traveled from Westmoreland Co. to Butler Co. after Indians killed her husband.With her were her two sons, Sylvanus, age eleven, and Abner, age ten.Westmoreland and Butler were both pretty much wilderness at the time.In the 1800 Census, we find that her name is Thankful.She is listed as Thankful Ages.On an 1803 Tax list, she is shown with 400 acres as Thankful Aggas.According to the histories, when Abner became a young man, he joined U.S. forces, who were fighting hostile Indian tribes.With a company of soldiers, he went down the Ohio River, and was never heard from again.

If you look at the Ohio River on a map,it's only about ten miles from the Butler Co. line and a long, long way to Tennessee, but before it joins the Mississippi, thereare tributaries that go near Lawrence Co., TN.TheTennessee River, for example passes about ten miles from the Lawrence Co. line.The total distance must be over 1,100 miles.

Mason P. is pretty consistent about his birthdate, and although not so consistent about his birthplace, his only specific, local reference was to Lawrence Co. TN.An Albert Aggus was there in 1818.I can't find any other Aggus' anywhere else in the U.S. at that time exceptSylvanus, back in PA.

FURTHER AGGUS MIGRATIONS

In 1830 at Census time, Abner Agguss or Agguse and family are residing in Greene Co., Illinois.In addition to Abner there are a male age 5-10 (born 1819-1825). a male age 10-15 (born 1814-29), a female age under 5 (born 1824-30), and a female age 30-40 (born 1789-1800).Either of the two boys is of the right age to be Mason P.

At the time of the 1840 Census, Abner Aggus and family are living inBelview Township, Washington Co., MO.With him are a male age 15-20 (born 1819-1825), a male age 20-30 (born 1809-1820), a female age 10-15 (born 1824-1830), and a female age 40-50 (born 1789-1800). Again, either of the two boys is of the right age to be Mason P.In 1841, Abner received a land patent for 77+ acres in Washington Co., MO.Washington Co., Mo is not far from Greene Co., IL - about 75 miles across the Mississippi River.Abner does not appear anywhere in the records after this time.

On 25 Dec 1845 in St. Francois Co., which is adjacent to Washington Co., Mason P. marries Mary Bounds.

In the 1850 Census, Mason P. and his family are living in Madison Co., MO, which is adjacent to St. Francois Co.In addition to his wife, Mary, age 30 (born 1819/20), are sons James J. B., age 2 (born 1847/48), and Irvine age 4 mos (born 1850).Mason P. received a land patent for 40 acres in Madison Co. in 1852.

REMAINING QUESTIONS / AREAS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

WHO IS CYNTHA AGGUS? There are very few other Aggus' in the U.S. in these early years.In the 1850 Census of Madison Co., MO, there is a Cyntha Aggus.She is living with a large family namedPolk only two dwellings away from Mason P. and his family.She told the census taker she was born in NC in 1796/97 - just the right age to be Mason P.'s mother.Interestingly, Mason P. and his wife, Mary had a daughter, who lived only nine months, named Cynthia.

WHO IS ALANSON AGGUS? An Alanson Aggus married Julia A. Johnson in Randolph Co., IL on 7 Feb 1849.There is no record of him before or after that date - not even in the 1850 Census. He would probably be a few years younger than Mason P.He is not a descendant of Sylvanus. His family back in PA is pretty well documented.There was no Alanson. He is probably Mason P.'s younger brother.

WHO IS MISS ERIE? For a long time I've known about an IGI record among the LDS Church records that says simply that an Abner Aggas was born about 1787 to Mr. Aggas and Miss Erie.I have not been able to find any other relevant information to date.This record would have been submitted by a member who must have had some reason for believing that Abner's mother's maiden name was Erie.They must not have known much else, however, or it would have been part of the record.I can get a copy of the submittal form on microfilm through the LDS Family History Center, but I've done this before, and there's almost never any additional information.

LOCATE LAND PATENTS ON MAPS I like to pin down exactly where ancestors lived, whenever possible.I'll get around to it if I live long enough, but there are plenty of other projects with higher priority.

CONCLUSIONS / HISTORICAL CHRONOLGY

Based on the information outlined above I have come to the conclusion that Mason P.'s father was Abner, born about 1786, probably in PA. Also that Mason P.'s mother/ Abner's wife was Cyntha _______ , and that Abner's mother was Thankful_______.